Y8: Week 3 | Oliver Twist and the Workhouse

Hello Year 8,

 

This week, we’ll continue our introductory study of Oliver Twist. Serendipitously, (go on – click to learn a new word!) the most recent tw0-part BBC drama version is currently available on iPlayer and can be viewed for the next two months (see below).

 

We will continue to study Oak Academy’s unit on the novel up until a dramatic moment which occurs in Chapter 10 (about a sixth of the way into the book). Then we’ll encourage you to read on and finish the book for yourself if you feel up to it. Reading a C19th novel independently is an accomplishment and is great preparation for GCSE.

 

Below, you’ll find the lessons for this week. But first, here are some useful resources if you want to really push yourself and enjoy Oliver Twist in more detail:

 

• An online copy of Oliver Twist, with audio recordings of each chapter so you can listen along.
• A pdf copy of Oliver Twist which you can download.
• The BBC’s two-part adaptation of Oliver Twist on iPlayer (until the end of February)

 

Do let us know if you’re reading the whole book!

 

Here are the lessons for this week. When you’ve completed a lesson, take one photo and keep hold of it until you share a sample of your work at the end of the week. Your teacher and Mrs Koczy and I will be checking that work has been completed – and if it’s not on Teams, it’s not done! We're looking forward to reading your descriptive writing over the next few days.

 

 

Lesson 1:

 

Do the next lesson on Oliver Twist from Oak National Academy, in which Oliver appears before the workhouse board.

 

Optional extension task for lesson 1:

Complete this ‘because, but, so’ task. This involves writing three complete and perfectly punctuated sentences that start the same but end in different ways.

 

The opening chapters of ‘Oliver Twist’ create great sympathy for Oliver because

The opening chapters of ‘Oliver Twist’ create great sympathy for Oliver, but

The opening chapters of ‘Oliver Twist’ create great sympathy for Oliver, so

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 2:

 

Do the next lesson on Oliver Twist from Oak National Academy, in which Oliver, famously, asks for more.

 

Optional extension tasks for lesson 2:

If you have time, you can choose one or more of these additional tasks to try…

Why do you think this scene is so famous? What is the impact of this scene on the reader, and how does it make us feel about Oliver? Write a paragraph to explain your view.

Last year, you guys were amazing at writing in iambic pentameter, so let’s see if you’ve still got it: write a quatrain called Oliver Asks For More. Here’s the powerpoint from last year to help you:

Watch this scene in the 2005 film, Oliver Twist and/or in the 1968 musical version, Oliver!

 

 

 

 

Lesson 3:

 

Do the next lesson on Oliver Twist from Oak National Academy, in which Oliver runs away.

 

Optional extension task for lesson 3:

Watch this clip from the the 2005 film, Oliver Twist, in which Oliver runs away from the home of the Sowerberrys.

 

 

That’s the end of this week’s work. Well done! Don’t forget to share a sample of your work on the week 3 assignment on Teams.

 

We’ll be back next week with more work on Oliver Twist. And there will be a little quiz on everything you’ve learnt so far!

 

Have a good and safe weekend,

 

Mr M